Wanderers have been stopped in their tracks by Leeds United in the chase to land keeper Andy Lonergan.

An official bid was lodged for the 28-year-old former Preston North End stopper yesterday but sources at Elland Road suggest it failed to match Leeds’ valuation.

The Yorkshire club have also confirmed they will not be selling their current number one until manager Neil Warnock has wrapped up a deal with QPR for Paddy Kenny – which is likely to mean the issue running well into next week.

Kenny is currently on holiday and while his £500,000 move from Loftus Road is all-but completed, Warnock, pictured below, wants to leave nothing to chance with transfer-listed Paul Rachubka his only other experienced keeper.

Wanderers tried to kick-start things with a bid of their own but are now likely to have to raise their offer to something approaching the fee Leeds are looking to pay for Kenny, although Owen Coyle has other options he may consider.

Former England Under-21s international Lonergan has two years left on his contract at Leeds but feels his chances will be limited with Warnock’s trusted lieutenant Kenny on the way.

Coyle has been an admirer since his days in the Championship with Burnley and feels the Preston-born keeper could provide good competition for last season’s player of the year Adam Bogdan.

As expected, Wanderers completed their second summer signing yesterday by rubber-stamping Matt Mills’ move from Leicester City.

Although his arrival was initially expected to be a season-long loan, he has signed a three-year permanent contract after a late change of plan.

Mills and his representatives had been struggling to come to a financial arrangement with the Foxes, which at one point put the whole transfer in doubt.

But having now confirmed his arrival, Mills hopes his experience in the Championship will be a valuable asset in Wanderers’ promotion push.

The former Doncaster, Reading and Leicester man boasts 144 appearances in the division over the last six seasons and warned that the Whites are unlikely to get things all their own way.

“There are no given games in this division,” he said.

“In the Premier League, the top six more or less pick themselves season-on-season, but in the Championship there are a lot of teams who will expect to do well.

“There are a lot of games and a lot of ups and downs.

“It is going to be a marathon and not a sprint, and Reading showed that is possible last season because they got promoted after being mid-table just before Christmas.

“Saying that, it does help getting off to a good start and if the boys go out there and give 100 per cent and the fans get behind the team, I’m predicting it will be a successful and enjoyable season.”